DAYTONA BEACH, FL – At around 2 p.m. on Saturday, a helicopter from Leading Edge Helicopter Tours collided with a drone near the Daytona Beach Flea Market, located at 1425 Tomoka Farms Road.
The helicopter managed to land safely following the incident, but suffered rotor blade damage estimated at $60,000. The drone involved in the collision was destroyed.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies contacted both the helicopter pilot and the drone operator at the scene. The drone operator, who was using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro for recording video for a construction company, stated he was focused on his tablet and heard a loud impact before realizing the drone was no longer airborne.
The helicopter pilot reported seeing the drone just before the collision through his windshield but couldn’t avoid it.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified of the incident.